Education

DeSantis PAC linked to Anti-School Prayer Advocate

Seriously … “Who” are these people? Controlled Opposition?

Published

2 years ago

July 27, 2023

It was just two weeks ago that the pro-Ron DeSantis Never Back Down Super PAC was hit with the viral video of their door-knocker here in Charleston South Carolina using some rather foul language on a Ring camera … not to mention admitting to being stoned (HERE). Geez …

The language was one thing and seemed to excite the national news and their audiences … but we took the alternative approach and asked “who” was responsible? No one has gotten a specific answer, but we have heard there have been some changes … and it has been reported that amide DeSantis’ tanking poll numbers, he has cut one third of the campaign staff (HERE).

As for the responsible party, we think the buck stops with the SC State Director, Randy Page, who has been a nemesis in our fight for “real” school choice here in South Carolina for way too long … and has some questionable issues himself to deal with (HERE & HERE).

We suspect there is more to come on Randy Page … but first here is one big question no one has been able to answer for us …

NEIL MELLEN?

Randy Page, in 2008 hired Neil on with him at South Carolinians for Responsible Government (SCRG). Allegedly SCRG was a pro-school choice advocacy group … but failed miserably despite tens of million in out of state advocacy dollars. Neil worked directly for Randy up until 2013 when Randy handed off the reigns of SCRG to Neil so he could return to Bob Jones University to ultimately become the Chief of Staff to the now departed President, following the Ellen Weaver Master’s Degree debacle.

The problem … just a few years prior to Randy hiring Mr. Mellen, Neil received the 2003 Student Activist Award and $1,000 from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Yes, you read that right, “from” Religion … and it is a real thing. Why? Because Neil was the lead plaintiff for the ACLU in their case to rid higher educational institutions in America of prayer before meals … specifically at Virginia Military Institute where Neil was a cadet.

So … why would Randy Page, a Bob Jones University, Republican Party “establishment”, Christian Conservative, hire an anti-school prayer activist … and worse, bring Mr. Mellen’s advocacy to our K-12 Christian Schools here in South Carolina?

Seriously … “Who” are these people? Controlled Opposition? (HERE).

Well, South Carolina does have the worst rated school choice program in the nation … and maybe that is the point as the advocacy dollars keep flowing. As we teach …

#FollowTheMoney!!!

NO COMMENT: We have reached out to the Never Back Down PAC and although we heard back initially related to our deadline … the PAC had no official statement on Mr. Page’s long standing connections with the ACLU anti-school prayer advocate.

Developing story …

mySCGOP.news, July 27, 2023: The date was January 23, 2002 … the last day cadets at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) had prayer before evening mess (dinner). The Citadel held out until August 2003.

Why? Why don’t we have prayer before meals at VMI & The Citadel? Because then VMI Cadet, Neil Mellen ’02 filed a lawsuit to stop prayers at VMI … and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) represented him as their lead plaintiff in the case.

The ACLU won … VMI, The Citadel, society and the rest of us all lost.

[CONTINUE READING]

Related Topics:BJU CaptureSC Featured FreedomFromReligion GCGOP Grassroot mySCGOP Politics ReOrg 2023 SCGOP VMI

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Choosing the Right Candidate: A Thoughtful Approach

(#1) Electable & (#2) Collaborative

Published

2 days ago

August 20, 2025

Jeff Davis

by Jeff Davis

As we head into the 2026 South Carolina Primaries next June 9th, Republican (and Democrat) voters will be faced with picking which Republican (or Democrat) they want to represent them in the general election. It will be a choice we each have to make among the available options … the 2, 3 or 5 candidates that filed and are on the ballot … and there is no “None Of The Above” option. Sure, you don’t have to vote … but don’t complain later when you sat out the election.

We are seeing already … the jockeying by political consultants and their operatives to push their candidate (and tear down the opponents) … and the “PERFECTIONISTS” that complain about every candidate, but offer no solutions (and are not willing to run for office themselves).

A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH: Selection of a candidate to support is not easy. None of them are perfect, and how much can you really believe from what you hear on the campaign trail. What we like to encourage is that everyone think critically and logically about candidates and their campaigns, and steer clear as best you can of the emotional knee-jerk reactions that often dominate the discussions.

IT IS NOT JUST THE CANDIDATE – LOOK AT THEIR TEAM: While it’s tempting to focus solely on the candidate, it’s equally important to examine the people they surround themselves with. If you’re unaware of a candidate’s consultants (and their motivations), staff (and their roles), or the candidate’s supporters (who will inevitable have the ear of the candidate), it’s wise to hold off on offering your support. Ultimately, it’s not just about the candidate—it’s about their TEAM (or the “baggage” that comes with them).

We like to prioritize two key qualities when evaluating candidates:

(#1) Electability: A candidate (a) willing to run for office and (b) capable of winning. You may know the “perfect” person, but if they won’t run for office or are not capable of winning … what good are they?

(#2) Collaboration and Integrity: A candidate open to working with The People, with the grassroots, willing to listen, eager to include The People as part of their TEAM, and genuinely committed to doing what’s objectively right for the people—not just themselves (or their monied special interest backers). Here is where experience and judgment comes into consideration because you really don’t know what a candidate might do once elected. We have helped candidates get elected – and then never spoken with them again (not by our choice). Being lied to is a hard lesson to learn.

This process of selecting a candidate to back is both an art and a science, and while we may never find the “perfect” candidate, we can identify and support those who meet these two criteria and give us the best odds of promoting the conservative cause … at least until the next election when we will have another chance to try again.

THE TRUMP OF 2016: Reflecting on the field of “candidates” in 2016 … and the original “candidate” DONALD J. TRUMP … I believe that original candidate TRUMP, embodied these qualities, and that approach has proven effective in helping Save America.

STOP LOOKING FOR A “POLITICAL SAVIOR”: Most importantly, let’s remember, no candidate will save us. There is only one true “Savior”, and He is not running for office. Our work continues, so don’t think you are off the hook if your person gets elected. But having the right people – dedicated TEAM players – in elected positions from top to bottom can make all the difference.

Be smart … be logical … don’t be emotional … and don’t just complain, complain, complain.

Dum spiro spero
(“While I breathe, I hope”)

Best,

Jeff Davis, JD, MBA, CPA(GA)
Chairman & Co-Founder, mySCGOP.com
Chairman, Greenville County Republican Party
jeff@apogeetax.com
843-901-8036 (cell)

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TRUMP Shares Nancy MACE Polling Lead for Governor

Mace Leads with 25% over Wilson at 17%

Published

3 days ago

August 19, 2025

mySCGOP.news

TRUMP Truth Social Post (HERE)

The NANCY MACE campaign released polling numbers yesterday showing a commanding early lead in the South Carolina Governor’s Race … 25% MACE, 17% Alan Wilson, 10% Ralph Norman, 6% Pamela Evette, 3% Josh Kimbrell … with 38% Lean / Undecided. You can see the full reports HERE & below.

The polling results show MACE separating herself from the crowd since officially launching her candidacy last week and announcing AUSTIN MCCUBBIN (HERE), the 2024 TRUMP Team Statewide Director, has joined her team. This all seems to make MACE the early odds on favorite to win the Republican Primary next June 9th, 2026 … 294 days from today.

You can find more details on FITSNews (HERE & on X HERE) … but the real story broke when President TRUMP himself shared the MACE Polling Lead on his TRUTH Social (HERE) last night at 9:29pm. When the POTUS shares your leading polling data with the world … that is a not so subtle message.

Good news for NANCY MACE … but and incredibly bad sign for Lt. Governor Pamela Evette who is in a distant 4th with 6% of the vote. The Lt. Governor has led folks to believe she has TRUMP’s endorsement locked up. Well, that claim did not seem believable at the time … and really doesn’t appear believable now. When was the last time TRUMP endorsed someone in 4th place??? We can’t remember either.

Stay tuned … it is going to be a fun 2026 primary season!!!

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Coffee & Politics – Greenville Edition – August 15th, 2025

JOIN US every Friday (11am-1pm)

Published

1 week ago

August 15, 2025

mySCGOP.news

Coffee & Politics – August 15th, 2025 – YouTube (HERE) & RUMBLE (HERE)

Friends, we have been running a weekly Coffee & Politics Meeting out of our Greenville Headquarters for nearly 3 1/2 years now … and it has been a huge hit. It is how we communicate our vision and #Mission to or local Volunteers and Community … and it one way we RECRUIT more people to the MAGA America First movement.

WHEN: Every Friday from 11am – 1pm

JOIN US!!!

NOW ON RUMBLE!!! (HERE)

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